David Lee has played more than 400 games for Dingley and filled almost every offfield position there is since joining the club as a junior in 1976.
By Brad Kingsbury
OVER the past 30 years the fortunes of Dingley Football Club have ranged between the high of premiership glory to the low of this year’s winless season, but one thing has not changed.
That is the commitment of David Lee to the club.
Lee, 44, came out of retirement to help the Dingo reserves field a side and said he had now chalked up more than 450 games with the club after joining as an under17 player from Springvale in 1976.
“I’ve played 301 senior games and the rest have been in the reserves over the past 10 years or so. They thought I had 299 games up, but did a recount and found it was 301,” he said without fanfare.
That is Lee’s way and despite his wonderful personal milestone (which is yet to be recognised by the league), he was more concerned about the future health and prospects of the club he has served, on and off field, for three decades.
Lee is, and always has been, a nuggetty backpocket player willing to take on the hard job of manning up the resting rovers, so when he joined the committee in 1988 it was not surprising that he put his hand up for the similarly tough task of club secretary the year after.
He remained in that job until 2003 and has continued to serve the Dingoes as a vicepresident since.
He was a member of the 1983 losing grandfinal side and tragically missed the 1994 premiership with a torn calf muscle sustained in an early final.
His work for the club off field has been incredible and, he said, very rewarding.
“I suppose I just love footy and when I got to Dingley I found my home,” he said.
“I’ve never looked to leave and never really wanted to. It is a good club with good people and I’ve made lifelong friends through football.
“With the change of leagues next year (Dingley will transfer to the Southern Football League) I will take a step back and allow somebody else to take over, but I think it is the right move and a lot of work has already been done to build a new era of success,” he said.
Lee is the final nomination for the 2006 Casey Cardinia League Unsung Hero award and a worthy recipient.
